ISLAMABAD: A Pakistani court has sentenced the deputy chief of the banned Tehreek-i-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP) to 35 years in prison for inciting hatred and violence against the former Chief Justice of Pakistan.
The convicted cleric, Peer Zaheer ul Hasan Bukhari, delivered a speech at the Lahore Press Club in 2024 in which he spoke out against then Chief Justice of Pakistan Qazi Faez Isa over a ruling in a blasphemy case.
Authorities stated that Bukhari’s remarks constituted incitement to violence, prompting police to register a case against him under several provisions of the Anti-Terrorism Act, as well as laws relating to hate speech.
The Anti-Terrorism Court handed down multiple prison sentences on various charges, with the longest individual term being 10 years of rigorous imprisonment, bringing the cumulative sentence to 35 years. However, the court ruled that all sentences would run concurrently.
In a written order, Anti-Terrorism Court Judge Arshad Javed confirmed the ruling. The court also imposed a combined fine of Rs 600,000 on the banned TLP leader.
The sentencing follows the government’s decision in October to ban Tehreek-i-Labbaik Pakistan and declare it a proscribed organisation under the Anti-Terrorism Act, citing its involvement in violent clashes with law enforcement agencies in Punjab.
The unrest broke out when TLP supporters attempted to march from Lahore to Islamabad, claiming they intended to hold a pro-Palestine demonstration outside the United States Embassy. Officials, however, said protesters were armed with bricks and batons, asserting that the march was aimed at provoking violence similar to previous attempts to reach the federal capital.
The clashes resulted in the deaths of five people, including two police officers, while more than 100 policemen and dozens of protesters sustained injuries.
Led by Saad Hussain Rizvi, TLP is known for its aggressive street politics. Since its formation in 2017, the party has repeatedly organised sit-ins and protest marches towards Islamabad, frequently leading to violent confrontations and prolonged disruption of major transport routes into the capital.
